Payne’s Prairie 5K supports UF 4-H youth summer camps

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Runners and walkers will take to the Payne’s Prairie trails Dec. 2 to benefit the Alachua County 4-H youth development program, part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension.

The fourth annual Little Run on the Prairie 5K will start at 8 a.m. at 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy, FL 32667. Families and dogs are welcomed. Sign up online.

Entry includes park admission, race timing, hydration stations, post-race refreshments and age group awards. Pre-race registration without a shirt is $15; day-of-race registration is $30.

“This past summer more than 30 kids were able to attend camp because of these scholarships. Recipients attended the sleep-away camp at Cherry Lake, the UF Bug Camp and day camps on special topics ranging from archery to ecology. These experiences help them explore their interests and develop life skills such as leadership,” Morgan said.

The race itself emphasizes the importance of an active, healthy lifestyle, a 4-H initiative, Morgan said.

“The 4-H running club has been practicing once a week for the last two months to get ready for the race. The day of the race, teens trained through the 4-H Food Smart Families program will run healthy living activities on-site,” she added.

The 4-H running club is supported by a grant from United Health Care, one of the sponsors of the event. Other sponsors include the 4-H Food Smart Families program, Gatorland Kubota, TNT Graphics, Tractor Supply, Charles Schwab, West Farms and Lloyd Clarke Sports.

To learn more about the Little Run on the Prairie 5K, please contact Amanda Morgan at 352-955-2402 or amorgan133@ufl.edu.

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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.